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Hundreds of Ukrainians on Thursday pulled down barriers to a border crossing with Poland blocked by protesters over a European Union visa row as Ukraine's parliamentary speaker called for measures to ease travel to Poland for Ukrainian citizens. According to Polish news agency PAP, Arseni Jazenjuk asked his Polish counterpart Bronislav Komorovski in a letter to speed up work on an agreement over border traffic with Poland. The agreement would enable the inhabitants of the border region to travel into the neighbouring country without a visa.

Since Poland joined the European Union's Schengen Zone on December 21, Ukrainians have had to pay 35 euros (51 dollars) for a visa to visit the neighbouring country, while travel had previously been free.

Poland now also asks potential travellers for proof of their financial solvency.

The travel restrictions affect in particular residents of the border region.

Meanwhile at the Krakowiec/Korczowa border crossing, where repeated protests have taken place during the past few weeks, hundreds of Ukrainians were pulling down barriers.

The Krakovets border checkpoint between Poland and Ukraine had been effectively shut to vehicles and pedestrians for more than a day.

The demonstrators set up bonfires and barricades on the road to the Ukrainian side of the crossing, as a protest against what they called unreasonable waits and difficulties in obtaining visas to visit Poland.

The Polish consulate in the west Ukrainian city Lviv also saw a demonstration of more than 700 protesting against the problem.